Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

Story Highlights

PHILADELPHIA – By the time this regular season winds to its merciful conclusion and the buzzards finish picking over the carcass, these 76ers will rank among the worst teams in NBA history.

That much is assured. Whether they ever win again has yet to be determined.

Rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams had a game-high 23 points and eight rebounds, but the Sixers stumbled to their 20th consecutive loss, a 103-77 demolition by the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center, tying a franchise record set by the 1972-73 team that posted an overall record of 9-73, the worst mark in NBA history. It was the Sixers' lowest scoring output of the season. Philadelphia's next game is Monday at the Eastern Conference-leading Indiana Pacers.

The longest losing streak in NBA history is 26 games, set by the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2010-11 season.

"This is not 'slit your wrist' time," Sixers first-year coach Brett Brown said, weathering a barrage of questions before the game, his back literally against a wall. "This is not even close to that. This is about building a program and understanding the short-term pain for a lot of long-term gain, and that's my vision and that's how I approach it."

Thaddeus Young added 20 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Sixers (15-51), who have lost 30 of their last 33 games and 16 consecutive in Philadelphia, the second-longest home losing streak in league annals. The Dallas Mavericks lost 19 in a row at home during the 1993-94 season.

"I just try to stay positive," Carter-Williams said. "I try to focus on my team rather than what our record is, or how many games we've lost, and I try to stay focused on the next game. At the beginning of the game it's always 0-0, so we always have a chance. I try to ignore the comments about us losing however-many straight, and just keep focusing on playing and getting better each day."

It's been no secret the Sixers are chasing the Milwaukee Bucks (13-53) for the worst record in the league in an attempt to secure the best chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. Philadelphia trails Milwaukee by two games with 16 to play.

The Sixers likely own two lottery picks in this summer's talent-rich draft – their own and a top-five protected pick from the New Orleans Pelicans, acquired last summer in a package with rookie center Nerlens Noel, in exchange for point guard Jrue Holiday. Noel, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament in February 2013, has not played this season.

Philadelphia also dealt starters Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes and reserve Lavoy Allen at the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 20 for a fistful of second-round draft picks and expiring contracts.

The moves have left the Sixers as little more than a husk of an NBA team, a roster dominated by youth and middling talent that aside from Young and Carter-Williams, some NBA executives have jokingly compared to a D-League outfit.

"We're not worried about that. We're trying to win every game we play," said Sixers guard Tony Wroten, who came off the bench to score 13 points. "Every time we step on the floor we're trying to win the game."

Brown, for his part, recognizes the situation.

"Any win that we have would be considered an upset going forward," he said. "That's just the way it's played out at this stage, and that is true."

The Sixers trailed the Grizzlies 45-36 at halftime. And Memphis' lead ballooned to as many as 29 points.

An usually large crowd, announced as 15,164 fans, packed into the arena, perhaps to catch a glimpse of all-time Philadelphia futility.

The post-trade deadline incarnation of the 76ers may very well be the worst team in NBA history.

"I've been asked by so many people, 'Why would you take the job? You're going to screw up your coaching percentage winning record,' " said Brown, who won four NBA championships as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs. "As if I care about that. I knew what I was getting into. I'm 53 years old. The challenge of this trumps everything for me. … We have a roster that needs to be developed. We have a situation that is very unique to the NBA, and here I am. And that's how I'm going about it. …

"To truly rebuild and grow something is going to take three to five years," he said. "That's just the way it goes. It's too well-coached and too-talented a league."